Celebrities 14 Celebrities Who Are Heirs

List of celebrities who are heirs, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Being an heir to a gigantic fortune can give a celebrity the freedom to pursue whatever goals they wish. Some have used the financial security to start their own businesses while others used it as a reason to get famous. Either way having a billion dollars to fall back on has got to be a great feeling.

Who is the most famous person who is an heir? Paris Hilton tops our list. “The Simple Life” star used her heiress status to gain attention at clubs and in the media. After she released her sex tape she became a celebrity overnight. She has expertly used her celebrity status to get acting roles, music contracts and start her own businesses. Other famous heirs who have used their names to help them succeed include Nicky Hilton, Ivanka Trump and Andrew Lauren.

Some heirs may surprise you. “Seinfeld” actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus' family is worth billions of dollars. The Louis-Dreyfus group is a global conglomerate that deals with everything from agriculture to oil. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's mother is designer Gloria Vanderbilt, making him a direct descendant of railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Do you think that being an heir helped these famous people to succeed? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Photo: via Tumblr Brooke Shields has a long lineage of rich and noble ancestors, including several families in Genoa and Rome, Italy. Her grandmother was Marina Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi, daughter of Marino Torlonia, 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi. Also, her father is an executive at Revlon and Estee Lauder.

Age: 53

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America